Moanalua's Tayli Ikenaga puts down a kill past Aiea's Hoku Cachola. Pete Caldwell | SL

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_17101308_1710_OIAQ_146.jpg - Pete Caldwell | SL

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SALT LAKE — Moanalua fended off a strong Na Alii rally to defeat Aiea in four sets, 25-17, 25-14, 25-27, 25-13, Thursday night in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I girls volleyball playoffs quarterfinal matchup at Moanalua High School.

Tied at 25 in the second set, Aiea senior Leslie Mamai-Lagafuaina notched back-to-back kills off assists from sophomore Hoku Cachola to put the game away and force a fourth set.

Moanalua jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Aiea made it close to be down, 11-9, but Na Menehune stayed strong to outscore Na Alii, 14-4, the rest of the way to close out the match. 

Freshman Tayli Ikenaga and senior Emily Dulaney led the way for the Na Menehune, scoring 19 and 12 kills, respectively. Ikenaga also had eight digs while Dulaney had five digs as well as 15 assists and one ace.

Senior Sara Ehnstrom contributed 29 assists, 13 digs and five kills — three of which came in the last scoring stretch of the match along with one of her three aces.

Na Alii's Mamai-Lagafuaina finished with a match and season high of 26 kills. Cachola had 31 assists.

Na Menehune — ranked No. 8 in the latest ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Girls Volleyball Power Rankings — remains unbeaten at 12-0 and will take on Mililani (10-1) in the OIA D1 semifinals. The match is set for 5:30 p.m. Monday night at McKinley High School. The winner will meet up with the victor of the second semifinal matchup between Kapolei (11-0) and Waianae (10-2) for the OIA D1 title.

All four semifinals teams have clinched a spot in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association D1 State Championship tournament later in October.

Aiea (8-4) will face Farrington on Monday night at 5:30 p.m. at Farrington High School. The winner will clinch a state tournament berth and a spot in the OIA fifth place game against the winner of Kahuku and Castle.